The Importance Of Daily Exercise For Teens

What is exercise?

Exercise is any purposeful physical activity that requires effort and improves or maintains both your mental and physical health.

Reasons/effects

Exercise can reduce the risks of heart disease by strengthening your heart and improving your circulation to flow better. With more blood flow, you get higher oxygen levels in your body. Higher oxygen levels also bring down the risk factors of heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It’s also a good way to improve your mental health. Exercising makes your body release hormones called endorphins that relax you and help deal with stress and other conditions like depression. Exercise can also help people with problems sleeping, as it strengthens your heart and lungs. You can also get more energy during the day for that same reason.

Ways to Incorporate Exercise into Your Daily Routine

• If you don’t have access to a gym near you, you can try going on walks or runs around your neighborhood.

• Having a friend or family member exercise with you can help you stay on track with your fitness.

• Try different combinations of exercises.

• If you prefer to stay inside, you could invest in a portable treadmill or bicycle. There’s also a lot of different types of exercises you could do at home such as, dancing, yoga, and pilates.

• If you find exercise too boring, try watching a TV show or listening to music as you do it.

• Join a sports team at your school. Joining one with your friend can also make the experience better.

How Much is Too Much?

The recommended amount weekly is 75 minutes of exercise minimum. You can split this time up any way you’d like. If you experience dizziness or unsteadiness during exercise, it’s best to talk to a doctor about specific exercises and how much of it you should do.

Written and researched by Kieran

2025 The HEAL Project